River Tweed River Report Week Ending 21st March 2020 - Tay Salmon Fly

River Tweed River Report Week Ending 21^st March

It’s been quite a surreal week where the fishing has kind of taken a back seat to the Coronavirus Epidemic which is increasing daily. The question, Should we be fishing? Is on everyone’s lips on the river just now. With the risk of spread with people attempting to travel long distances to fish is not the best of ideas. Many fishers have cancelled there fishing and are heeding the Government advice on no unnecessary travel. I do believe some beats have closed their doors currently and have tried their best to reschedule the fishers. If you have fishing booked and are unsure what it going on and would like to find out what your options are get in touch with the ghillie on the beat or with the agent you booked with. In the town it’s is a lot quieter now with the Pubs and Restaurants ordered to close, with a bit of luck all will survive this horrible period of time and come back as thriving businesses once this is all in the past. I do hope that everyone would follow the Government advice and try and keep everyone as safe as they possibly can. Please stay safe and think of others.

On the fishing front we still haven’t managed to get a full week without a flood with another big dirty rise on Tuesday evening which provided us with 6ft of chocolate on Wednesday morning and didn’t clear that well before Friday. Over all it was a reasonable weeks fishing with lovely fresh fish caught from Upper Mertoun down to the Lees.   Mr Davies had success while fishing at Upper Mertoun with some lovely fresh fish. On the Junction Pat Leary had a good start to the week landing 3 fish, Mt Tom Reid and Boatman Gavin Brown also landed fish. On Upper North Wark it was a week of what could have been with some excellent sport had just some unfortunately didn’t make it to the net. On Tuesday 9 fish were hooked on the beat and the days after the mid-week flood resulted in more fish been hooked. The Snipe pool living up to its higher water reputation provided the bulk of the sport with success for Mr Jason Tumath on the Rapala, Mr Steven Hogg on the Salmo, Mr Hugh Newton landed 2 on a 2” Black and Yellow Tube and Mr James McLay fishing the beat for the first time landing a cracker on a Flying C. The Lees had their first fish on the season landed by Mr Mark Orton from the Temple of a Willie Gunn tube fly.

Above Kelso 16 fish were reported, Between Kelso and Coldstream 30 were reported and below Coldstream none were reported.

On the River Till, no fish were reported.

46 Salmon and 4 Sea Trout were landed for the week with the best fish 12lb Salmon caught on the Lower Birgham & Birgham Dub beats.

Tweedswood Head Ghillie Mr Kevin Patterson reports “Well tricky things starting to happen all around on the rivers as the coming months are looking like common sense is going to have to prevail in what’s seen in people wanting to come fishing with contact on any part of the day being totally none existence especially as the client would be putting their self's in danger from being with a ghillie that unknowingly been in contact with an angler previous day it’s also the other way that an angler might bring the virus unknowingly to the lodge and others there’s no way of telling . I am very concerned that we are putting customers in danger and also that I am being also put in danger so in coming months we will have to monitor everyone from both sides as no one really knows whose infected .

Some beats have closed their doors to try and save the spread and it’s looking like it’s the way to go I am looking into the coming weeks to see what happens in the containing of the spread of virus. Let’s watch and see where this all leads and we can come out the other end safely and get fishing again as soon as possible. It’s a tricky thing to know what’s best but I will do all I can going forward to see how it pans out and hope fully after a few months its safe again to get a group again in the hut and out fishing no one knows the answers for this and I've two elderly parents that will need to be looked after and need visited I can’t risk unknowingly taking it up to Peebles I've always lived in a happy go lucky thought pattern and just get on with it but when you get it spelt out like it is even I agree I can’t risk playing roulette with clients and me alike keep safe cheers Kevin .

Lower Birgham Head Boatman Mr Tom Davis reports “Well as we started the week we wondered if we were going to go a whole week without a flood... we’ll it didn’t happen. Tuesday night the river rose rapidly and gave us yet another flood for Wednesday and Thursday. But on Friday after the flood had gone some fish came. We had a cracking 12lb salmon on Friday and the On Saturday it got even better with 2 salmon. Both on the fly and both dripping with sea lice. They were absolute stockers! With everything that has happened on the river in 2020 with flood after flood. It’s great so see some of these fantastic super conditioned fish. Fish were steadily caught around us as well the last week and so with the water dropping and conditions looking steady, we can’t wait to get onto the river next week and see what fish are about and if we can get hold of them! Tight lines Tom”

On Upper North Wark, well a very interesting week with 19 fish hooked over the week and only managing to get 5 into the net and a sea trout. More details in the main paragraph at the top. The beat remains open currently with a very strict protocol in place until further decisions are made by the government.

Lees Head Boatman Mr Malcolm Campbell reports “The River is finally starting to get down to a level where we have a chance of a fish, and on Friday we did get a fish and in fact almost had two. Mark Orton was the lucky rod getting a 9lber from the top of the Temple on a Willie Gunn tube, Mike woods lost a fish 6 foot from the net in the lower temple. It is to be hoped it stays dry for at least a month, whether rods will get here or in fact will be allowed to travel is another matter. For full Lees report do to Lees page on Tweedbeats and look for Malcolm's fishing report”

We are blessed in this area to have some superb local fishing tackle shops that are well worth a visit the superb well stocked Borders Gunroom in St Boswells. I would recommend for a rummage round which and find out from the local staff what’s currently doing the damage on the river and lochs.

The stunning Saddler Cottage, located within the grounds of Tillmouth Park in now under new ownership. Suitable for fishers and families this lovely cottage is very handily placed for fishing the Lower and Bottom Tweed beats. If you would like more information please check out the link https://www.crabtreeandcrabtree.com/properties/saddler-cottage/

The week ended with the level at Sprouston 2ft 1” and falling with the water temperature is 42.

Looking at the availability for this coming week I would recommend Dryburgh Upper, Rutherford and Lower Birgham beats should have a chance of some action this week.

The forecast this coming week, Tomorrow will be dry with some sunshine but high cloud will turn this hazy at times. Feeling cool in the moderate to fresh southerly wind. Tuesday should be windy and often cloudy but remain mostly dry. On Wednesday the cloud is expected to thicken as a front moves down from the north-west bringing spells of rain. This should have cleared through by Thursday, leaving sunny spells and scattered showers. However, the showers may start turning wintry on high ground.

As always I would like to thank all those who provide me with the information to make this report, it is very much appreciated. If you have any information or photo’s you would like included please get in touch with Martin on 07825334427 or info@taysalmonfly.co.uk

Look at what to bring for the week aheads fishing, intermediate lines with assorted poly leaders should suffice on most places with Black and Yellow, Junction Shrimp, Temple Shrimp, Willie Gunn Snaelda, and Rogie are all capable to tempting fish on 1” – 1.5” tubes. On the spinning front Rapala or toby should be worth a go.

As always come prepared and always listen to the advice of your boatman or ghillie. If you’re needing to top up your fly box ahead of your trip please check out www.taysalmonfly.co.uk

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Season So Far catches

Total catch last week:  46 Salmon 4 Sea Trout

Total caught so far this season: 117 Salmon and 12 Sea Trout

As reported on Fishtweed:-

(Biggest Salmon 18lb Lower Birgham)

(Biggest Sea Trout 10lb Lower Birgham)

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